Tarot: Character Creation

Welcome to my series of Using Tarot in Writing based on Jenna Reynolds’ Tarot spreads. If you’re just joining the series, you may want to catch up on the earlier installments before continuing with this one.
Part one, Introduction
Part two, Plotting and Brainstorming
Part three, Character Circle

Part 4, Three Aspects of Character Creation

There is a first time for everything and today that is this spread. I’m using my Angel Tarot Deck this time to mix things up a bit. Give the deck a nice shuffle. Cut the deck. Deal the deck. And…

Based on Jenna Reynolds’ 3 Aspects of Character Creation Sheet

I think you can see why I recommend using a deck with images on all the cards. I’m going to be referencing the little booklet that came with the deck, Tarot for Writers, and Raven’s Tarot Site to help with this reading.

Now, that’s a lot to look at all at once, let’s break it down by row.

Row One of the 3 Aspects of Character Creation Spread

Row One — The Character’s Physiology

• Gender: 10 of Wands. Okay, maybe my mind is in the gutter but those wands kinda look like…aw-hm…phalli. I’m gonna say our character is a male.

• Age: Page of Cups. A page to me is a young man. So I think our character is in his early to mid twenties.

• Body Type: Knight of Cups. I’ll say our young man has an athletic build. After all knights must be physically fit, right?

• Hair/Eye/Skin Color: 7 of Pentacles. Yikes! Let’s see, yellow is the dominate color to me, our guy has blond hair. Green is the secondary color that stands out to me, so green eyes. Pentacles are earthy and correspond to diamonds in a regular deck, which is generally connected to money (Tarot for Writers). I’m going out on a limb here and will say our guy works inside but plays outside thus sports a light tan.

• Notable Aspects: The Magician. Our guy has an oval face with a cleft chin, his eyes seem too big for his face, he wears his hair long yet covers it with hats in an attempt to control it, and often dresses in mismatched colors.  (Hmm, perhaps he’s color blind.)

• Health: 6 of Pentacles. The drive behind the 6 of Pentacles is ‘overcome of crisis and success’ (Raven’s Tarot Site) so I’m going to say our guy is recovering from an illness.

Row Two of the 3 Aspects of Character Creation

Row Two — The Character’s Sociology

• Social Class: Ace of Wands. ‘Inheritance’ is one of the keywords in the booklet that came with the deck so I’m saying our guy just came into some money that comfortably moved him into upper middle class.

• Occupation: 5 of Wands. This is a tough one. Most sources indicate ‘struggle’ and/or ‘conflict’ with this card. Perhaps our guy lost his job due to his illness. Or, perhaps, he’s a day trader (Tarot for Writers).

• Education: King of Pentacles. The image reminds me of someone graduating from university, maybe a bachelor’s degree. ‘Wise investments’ is a keyword phrase in the booklet that came with the deck and that kind of goes with the day trader idea. So let’s say our guys has a Bachelor of Arts in Finance degree.

• Religion: 4 of Cups. There’s not much imagery on the card but what there is makes me think the Jewish religion and/or the Old Testament. ‘Emotional riches’ and ‘stability of feelings’ are keywords (Raven’s Tarot Site). Stepping out on that limb again, I’m going to say our guy is comfortable within his Jewish background but not overly religious, only going to Synagogue for holidays.

• Politics: 9 of Wands. Oh, boy. I don’t do politics, just not interested in that can of worms. Our guy is young so I’m going to say he’s not registered with any political party but he supports a number of causes.

• Amusements: 8 of Cups. Cups, he likes to go out and party. Hearts, he’s a bit of a player, he likes to wine and dine the ladies.

Row Three of the 3 Aspects of Character Creation Spread

Row Three — The Character’s Psychology

• Personality Type: Knights of Wands. I’m taking this straight from Tarot for Writers — He’s witty, flirtatious, and romantic. He can also be fierce, short-tempered, impulsive, and impetuous.

• Attitude Toward Life: The Chariot. He has a can-do attitude.

• Abilities: 10 of Pentacles. Most sources list ‘prosperity’ as a keyword. So our guy is good with money, time-management, and maintaining a balance between his professional and personal lives.

• Qualities: 9 of Pentacles. He has a knack for being in the right place at the right time (Tarot for Writers), loves animals and nature (booklet), he knows his limitations (Tarot for Writers), and he’s a ‘glass half full’ guy (Raven’s Tarot Site).

• Temperament: 2 of Cups. Most sources show this as a relationship card; love, friendship, marriage, partnership, etc. Our guy is friendly and out-going.

• Personal Motto: 7 of Swords. Wow, this one’s hard. Most sources talk about theft and defeat and trickery. Ugh, not good motto stuff. However, the little booklet that came with the deck is more up-lifting (new plans, wishes, fortitude, perseverance, attempt, endeavor, hope, confidence, fantasy, design). Our guy’s motto is — “What you can do, or dream you can do, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” (Goethe)

Okay, that was fun, more fun than I expected. I went through this as you would, recording my impressions as I went, looking up where I needed more info than I could glean from the card itself. In real time it took about two hours with wee beastie interruptions. I suspect it would have gone a bit faster with a deck that had images on all the cards vs. this one that only has images on the Major Arcana and court cards.

Anybody want to give this dude a name and write his story?

There’s been some interest in a Q&A and/or Tarot 101 post. What I’ll do is gather up all the questions y’all note in the comments on any of the Tarot posts and write up a post at the end of the series. Thank you for the interest and support of this series.

Tarot: Character Circle

Welcome to my series of Using Tarot in Writing based on Jenna Reynolds’ Tarot spreads. If you’re just joining the series, you may want to catch up on the earlier installments before continuing with this one.
Part one, Introduction
Part two, Plotting and Brainstorming

Part 3, Character Circle

Of Jenna Reynold’s spreads, this is probably the one I use the most.  I’ll often set it up as a mind-map with the card name at the center of each point on the spread where I then write as many words or phrases as come to mind.  This works great when you mind-map all your main characters on one sheet of paper and all the yin-yang start popping up.  Like your hero’s goal is your heroine’s fear.  Tension makes the story go ’round.

(Note: I’m using my Celtic Tarot deck.)

This time I’m using a spread I did for a heroine in a fantasy piece I’m toying with.  I went in to this reading knowing a few things.  The world is heavily seeped in elemental imagery and is a matriarchal society.  I knew my heroine was of the Earth house and possibly in line for the throne, a process that hinged on conception and marrying her Triad (yep, I set myself up for a story centering around a foursome :head desk:).  I’ve name her Gaea for now.

Based on Jenna Reynolds’ Character Circle Sheet

Here’s the freaky, or cool, depending on your point of view.

See that center card?  It represents the character.  Reverse 4 of Pentacles (or Disks) which is the element of Earth.  Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.

The center card represents the character.  This can be as simple or complex as you need it to be.  Do you just need a physical description?  Look at the picture.  Do you need core personality details?  Look at the imagery and/or meanings of the card.

Starting at 12 o’clock you have the character’s Goal overlapped by the Basis behind that Goal.  Continuing clockwise you have:  Outer obstacles, Action taken to achieve the Goal, Fear overlapped by the Basis behind that Fear, Stakes, and Inner obstacles.

In my case, I already knew my character was female but knew nothing of her background, her goals, motivations, fears, or conflicts.  So my first step was to write down anything and everything I could about the card.  Some of the words/phrases are definitions and some are my take on the card’s image.

• Character:  Reversed 4 of Pentacle

Stability, Security, Gain, Fear of loss, Crown weighs heavy on shoulders, Alone, Holds what’s dear close, Worry

I already knew Gaea was from the Earth house and possibly in line for the throne.  When I look at the picture I see someone clinging to what they hold dear, alone and afraid, and that one disk looks heavy upon his head.  I knew going in that Gaea would have to connect with the other three houses (Fire, Air, Water) to rule and the simple fact this card was a four was huge to my development of Gaea.

• Goal:  2 of Swords

Peace, Compromise, Begin analysis, Balance force, Contradictory characters of the same nature, Blinded, Alone, Ready to fight

Traditionally, the 2 of Swords means there’s a tough decision to be made.  As a possible ruler, peace and compromise are important goals.  However, I needed something more personal.  Gaea wants to change some unjust laws.  Laws that left her alone in a palace full of family.

• Basis of Goal:  Magician

Self-realization, Activity, Power, Impulse, Energy, Strong will, Back to basics, Hard work, Fruits of labor, Game of chess, Bondage (freedom?)

Gaea knows becoming queen is the best way to reach her goal.  She wants to bring her brothers home.  Brothers exiled from the palace just for being male and growing up.

• Outer Obstacles:  Reversed 7 of Wands

Courage, Fighting spirit, Facing hardships, Getting attacked, Overcoming Opposition, Standing alone against foes, Fire, Maintain (hill)

Gaea has to overcome generations of traditions to overturn the laws that banished her brothers.

• Action Taken to Achieve Goal:  Reversed World

Harmony, Completion, Chasing false ideas, On street to nowhere, Long journey, Map, Broken spear, Bird whispering in ear

Gaea must first be chosen to succeed the queen, completing against her cousins.  She must then find harmony with her Triad.

• Fear:  5 of Pentacles

Worry, Reconsider values, Destroys peace and security of the four, Unbalanced change, Managing in hard times, Breaking up stability of the four, Illness or injury, Crisis, Watched, Injured, Cold, Leaning on a friend, Outside looking in

Gaea has always felt alone, an outsider looking in.  She fears what she must do to become queen and worries she will break up the stability of the four (Earth, Fire, Air, Water).

• Basis of Fear:  Reversed Hermit

Afraid of others or life, Bitterness, Running away, Retiring from life, Loneliness, Numbness, Introversion, Retreat, Hard work, Preparing for war, Naked, Alone

Gaea wants nothing more than to run away from the responsibility she’s placed on herself.

• At Stake if Goal Not Achieved:  Reversed Knight of Pentacles

Coldness, Growth, Dullness, Corruption, Stubbornness, Solidity, Alone, In flight for life, Chasing own tail, Turning over the crown, Remain on the outside looking in

If Gaea fails to become queen and change the laws she will remain on the outside looking in.  She will not be able to find her brothers and will likely have to leave the palace, the only home she’s known.

• Inner Obstacles:  3 of Cups

Conception, Fulfillment, Healing, Sensuality, Satisfaction, Synthesis and harmony (Triad), Good luck, Pleasure, Toasting good fortune, New day or beginning, Forest, Three sisters

When I saw conception as one of the keywords for this card I had a major ahh-ha moment.  Gaea must overcome her fear of getting pregnant and giving birth.  She must conceive to become queen, it’s one of the many tests she must go through, and her mother died in childbirth — one reason her brothers were exiled from the palace (that’s back story and world building stuff).  Triad.  She needs to find fulfillment and satisfaction with her Triad.

Now, I’m hoping to write this someday so I’m not going to go into any more detail but I think this helps you see some of the thought process (of which this was just the first run through).

For Fun:

• What ideas did those keywords/phrases spark for you?
• Pull out your own 4 of Pentacles card, what character do you see?

There’s been some interest in a Q&A and/or Tarot 101 post. What I’ll do is gather up all the questions y’all note in the comments on any of the Tarot posts and write up a post at the end of the series. Thank you for the interest and support of this series.

Tarot: Plotting and Brainstorming

Welcome to my series of Using Tarot in Writing based on Jenna Reynolds’ Tarot spreads. If you’re just joining the series, you may want to read the part one Introduction before continuing with this installment.

Part 2, Plotting and Brainstorming

I’m using my Celtic Tarot deck for this exercise and it switches out the elements between swords and wands. As I’m just brainstorming I’m not going to focus on the elements right now. I’m also doing this real time. I shuffled the deck, cut it, dealt it, and this is what I ended up with.

Based on Jenna Reynolds’ Tarot Plotting — Brainstorming Sheet

Let’s start with the lead character’s Goal, Stakes, and Obstacles — the bottom half of the spread.

Based on the first card on the top half of the spread, I’m going to say my lead is a woman and I’ve named her Regina (from the bottom of the card) Thorn (a play on throne).

• Goal:  2 of Cups

Regina is happy in her career as a guidance counselor and per her ten year plan she’s now ready to take the plunge into marriage.  She’s known she’d marry Darin Knight for years because they’ve been dating off and mostly on since college.

• Stakes:  4 of Wands

Regina is so sure she’ll marry Darin that wedding preparations are already underway.  Everyone knows about the wedding except the groom and Regina will never live up to it if he turns her down.

• Obstacles:  3 of Swords

A funny thing happened on the way to the wedding…Regina fell in love with someone else.

So, a little GMC *(Goal, Motivation, and Conflict) for Regina:

School guidance counselor, Regina Thorn, wants to marry her college sweetheart because both their careers are established and it’s time, but on the way to the alter Regina meets and fall in love with another man.

Not the strongest but we’re just brainstorming here.  Still plenty of time to add, change, etc.

Now, let’s look at the top part of the spread.

Act One:

• Beginning:  Queen of Cups

Regina is at work, she and Darin are in one of their “off again” periods, and she’s pensive.  How can she win him back?

• The Trigger Event:  The Hierophant

Regina volunteers at the community center where Darin teaches swimming every weekend but Darin resists her charms.

Act Two:

• Midpoint:  The Lovers

Just as Darin seems to be coming around to Regina’s way of thinking, she meets therapist, Keith Painter.  Keith fulfills holes she didn’t know she had.

Or maybe, Regina starts going out with Keith to make Darin jealous.

Act Three:

• The Black Moment:  2 of Swords

Both men want her, she wants both men, but she can’t have both and the two men are pulling her apart.

Or maybe, making Darin jealous backfires and he walks out of Regina’s life.

• End:  10 of Cups (I love getting this card, especially at the end.  It always spells HEA for me.)

Regina’s choice was hard won but she got her man and the family she dreamt about.  (And no I’m not saying which one, LOL)

And all of that gets me thinking about the antagonist in this story.

Is it Darin?

Astronomer, Darin Knight, wants to keep the friends with benefits relationship with Regina as is because he’s still not ready for marriage but his college words are coming back to haunt him, “Let’s give it ten years, get our careers established first, then we’ll get married.”  Time has run out.

Or, is it Keith?

Shy occupational therapist, Keith Painter, has admired Regina from afar and wants to show her all men aren’t players because he’s watched Regina and Darin for months, knows Darin is just using Regina, but Darin fights for Regina when he’s threatened by Keith.

For Fun:

• What can you add to this brainstorm session?
• Or, do the cards tell you a different story?

No worries if this exercise sparks an idea or two for you — I have no plans to write this one. Besides, the story you write from this spread would be entirely different from mine.

*GMC: Goal, Motivation & Conflict by Debra Dixon is a recommended read.

There’s been some interest in a Q&A and/or Tarot 101 post. What I’ll do is gather up all the questions y’all note in the comments on any of the Tarot posts and write up a post at the end of the series. Thank you for the interest and support of this series.

Using Tarot in Writing

Part 1, Introduction

Angel deck, The Lovers, I write romance after all.

I was introduced to using the Tarot for writing last year during Coyote Con by the amazing Jenna Reynolds.  While I doubt I’ll ever use the Tarot for divination it has been a fascinating tool for brainstorming.  So I thought I’d do a little series on using the Tarot for your writing.

To get started, you should invest in Tarot for Writers by Corrine Kenner (one of my Recommended Reads).  It has a little bit of everything and will set you on the right path.

If you don’t own a deck, that would be your second step.  Invest in a set that speaks to you, is visually appealing, and has images on all the cards not just the Major Arcana.  Aeclectic Tarot is one good site for Tarot cards.  You can view hundreds, if not thousands, of decks on Aeclectic Tarot.  I found my first set on Amazon.

The Tarot deck includes 22 Major Arcana (secrets) representing major events, life’s journey, archetypes, etc. and 56 Minor Arcana representing everyday events, everyday people, etc.

The Minor Arcana is broken down into suits (just like a regular deck of cards) and you’ll want cards with pictures on the entire suit.

• Wands correspond to Clubs, represent the element of Fire (wood burns), and symbolize spiritual experience.
• Cups or Chalices correspond to Hearts, represent the element of Water, and symbolize emotional affairs.
• Swords correspond to Spades, represent the element of Air (swords cut through the air), and symbolize thought and communication (swords and spades “have a point to make”).
• Coins or Pentacles correspond to Diamonds, represent the element of Earth, symbolizing physical, material, and financial realities.

And just like a regular deck of cards you will find court cards within the suits:  King, Queen, Knight (Prince), and Page or Knave (Princess).  You will come across some differences — the most common being the switching of Wands and Swords elements — between various decks so read the little booklet that comes with your cards.

Take a look at the two above cards.

The first is from my Angel deck by US Game Systems, the 3 of Cups,  and you can see the heart imagery from a regular ol’ fashion deck of cards on the card.

While the 3 of Cups card from my Celtic deck by Lo Scarabeo has an image. With an image you can get inspiration for a scene (or even an entire story), a location, a plot twist, a character’s physical description or background, or insight into a character’s goals and motivation.

• What do you see in the 3 of Cups card?

Tarot Card Worksheet is great for writing down impressions, keywords, and whatever else comes to mind.

And I love Raven’s Tarot Site for definitions and such.  This site is awesome for the elemental aspect of the cards, she shows which pairings strengthen vs. which weaken, the passive and active cards.  My favorite piece is on each card she indicates the Drive behind that card, the Light (which I read as the straight forward or upright reading of a card), and the Shadow (which I read as the reverse or upside down reading of a card).

Celtic deck: The Lovers

Jenna Reynolds created some Tarot spreads and has graciously granted me permission to reference them. Currently, you can download them from her Yahoo Group. My plan is for each part of the series to focus on one of Jenna’s spreads.

Part two, Plotting and Brainstorming
Part three, Character Circle
Part four, Character Creation
Part five, The Hero’s Journey
Part six, Creating a World
Part seven, Tarot 101
Part eight (addendum), Elements

For Fun:

• What story do you see in The Lovers card?

• What does the card tell you about the character?
• Is this the hero and heroine?
• Is that the antagonist looking over the man’s shoulder?

• What’s happening in this scene?

Update: There’s been some interest in a Q&A and/or Tarot 101 post. What I’ll do is gather up all the questions y’all note in the comments on any of the Tarot posts and write up a post at the end of the series. Thank you for the interest and support of this series.